When poetry becomes a lifeline

Shaheen Reza Rassel has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disease known as Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD). Despite the adversities, he has been exploring his talents as a writer, poet, playwright, singer, music composer and painter. He has garnered popularity amongst the youth for his unique creations. Currently, he is the Assistant Director of National Art Gallery Auditorium, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

As the coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to an abrupt standstill, Bangladeshi writers and poets are expressing their concerns through literature.

Heaven of the Earth, Rassel's poem on the pandemic, carries a political message.  In the poem, he describes how as doctors, nurses and other frontline professionals are fighting the battle against the invisible enemy, weaponry has become worthless. He calls for the establishment of thousands of peace centers or 'heavens' around the world with the money of the military sector so that the starving and destitute communities can live there. He urges all to keep the ballistics, mines, missiles, fleet of warships and tanks in the 'museum' of hate. The poem garnered widespread appreciation on social media recently.